by LJ Scar
“Have you spread your mom’s ashes yet?” I asked delicately.
“No, I was waiting for you.”
Overwhelmed by hoping that she had wanted me there for the occasion I quelled the moment with a probing question, “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No,” she didn’t hesitate.
“Me either. Have you?” The stark expression that passed her face when I asked that question made me want to eat the words.
“There was a time when knowing who you’d been with mattered. It doesn’t anymore. As for who I’ve been with, that is none of your business.”
I backtracked, “Fair enough, but just so you know there has been no one else since you left.”
She nodded and stared ahead. “We’d better head out 6a.m. comes early for me.” She rose and started walking not looking to see if I followed.
The visual was like footage from the travel channel, so many beautiful spots. We passed another lake, that one bigger than the other. Then we left the park venturing north on a desolate highway until we turned again, entering another entrance.
Around dusk, we parked in front of a small two story dark brown Swiss Chalet structure set back from the primary hotel. Though rustic, it was appealing. The view was decent, a rolling rock strewn creek surrounded by mountains.
Our arms were overflowing with grocery bags and my gear. Up a flight of stairs where an exterior door was propped open with a river rock, we walked down a sparse uninviting hallway to a room that Hanna already had a key to open. Inside it was dingy white with twin beds set in the middle and plumbing pipes snaking across the ceiling. One bed was unmade with a half opened nightstand jammed with unfolded t-shirts, boxers and various other articles of clothing. The other I assumed was mine.
A young guy with shaggy black hair to his shoulders and a sparse beard appeared in the doorway. His earbuds were loud enough for outside the eardrum audio assault. He smiled at Hanna and yanked out the tiny wire. The music amplified.
“Hey,” he greeted us.
“Hi.” She set down her lot and handed the guy the bag with the Power Bars. Then stuck her hand in her front pocket and retrieved his receipt wrapped around his credit card, tossing the key to the room on my bed.
“Thanks.” He smiled as he sorted through the bag before devouring one that smelled like peanut butter.
“No problem,” she replied seeming perturbed with him. She turned to me. “This is my friend and your roommate, Glade.”
I so wanted to say, ‘Like the air freshener?’ I didn’t, opting to offer a handshake instead. “Tanner.”
He nodded. “Been looking forward to meeting you.” He accepted my hand squeezing a little attitude my way.
“You seem settled in.” I looked around the room.
“Part of the grounds opening crew along with Hanna. How was your trip?”
“Good. Long.”
“You guys been gone awhile.” He focused on Hanna again.
“Yeah, after groceries we grabbed lunch at Apgar and ate it overlooking Lake McDonald. Took the Road to the Sun. Stopped at most of the pull offs. Got caught up in construction through a snowstorm at Logan Pass. Did the Hidden Lake Trail.”
“Kali has the gym sock tied around the door,” he stated.
She rolled her eyes. “What’s new?”
He laughed. “I think she molested another foreign kid.”
Hanna turned to me. “You know those maps of the US that go on RVs?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I got a head case for a suitemate. She has one of the world. She is experiencing global travel via its citizens.”
They both laughed.
“You okay with her as a roommate?” I asked.
“To each his own. Be glad my bed is up against this wall.” She knocked on the heavily patched sheetrock flanking the twin bed I was given. Only a hundred year old scrap of plaster and lattice separated her from me.
Hanna was making an excuse to leave, “I know it’s early.” My eyes checked the digital clock by Glade’s bed. “But I’m up before dawn almost every day this coming week and you guys can male bond or something better without me.” She looked my way and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She slipped out the door. I noticed it was either the type that automatically closed or the building was so old and slanted that it shut on its own.
Glade tipped his head my way. “They assign roommates based on your job so you don’t disturb each other with early morning rising if the other doesn’t have to.”
“Makes sense.” I worked the swollen nightstand drawer by my bedside back and forth until it pulled out. Emptying some of my duffel inside, I couldn’t get it pushed back. I realized apparently Glade’s didn’t work either.
“Yeah, Hanna’s slut of a roommate is a hotel maid and sometimes waitresses in the bar at night. Her hours are early too. Hanna’s working so much or just gone enough that it doesn’t bother her. She hangs out with me sometimes. A couple of times she even slept in your bed because her room was rocking.” He laughed.
“So you work the boats also?” I changed the subject before I strangled him in a jealous rage.
“Yeah, you, me, Sunye, and Mike are manning the boats this season at least until you leave,” Glade explained.
He was warming up. I wasn’t. I couldn’t dispel the image of him messing around with Hanna while she slept in my future bed.
“You guys tight? She said you were her best friend from high school.”
With effort, I crushed the wave of hostility. “Yeah, we’re tight. We were more than best friends. We were a couple.”
“Figures. She turned me down flat last time I tried.”
“What did you try?” I so wanted to punch this guy.
“Not much. I thought she wanted me, she thought she didn’t.” He shrugged it off.
I nodded relieved. Kicking my bag under my bed, I leaned back on the sagging mattress. Whiffs of Hanna’s shampoo drifted up from my pillow making putting up with this guy seem worth it. I could hear her in the next room talking to her roommate. Glade bounded over and leaped on my bed before pressing an ear to the wall to eavesdrop.
There was no need. Her roommate’s accent was a little grating, nasally and carried well through the wall. “I know you’re curious. Ask me?”
Hanna’s voice was quiet, muffled like she knew we could hear them. “About what?”
“Asian men. If it’s true.” Her roommate laughed.
“I don’t care.”
“Well, sadly it is.”
I didn’t hear Hanna’s response because Glade burst out in loud laughter. Suddenly, overhead pipes groaned forcing water to the shower in their room.
“So tomorrow, I’ll do your orientation. We start at 8 but the first launch isn’t until 8:30. The morning cruises are always booked. Most people sign up for those the previous day but in the afternoon it slows down. More passengers board to return from the lake to here.”
“How many employees on each cruise?” I asked bunching up my pillow and lying back.
“First trip three: you, me, and Sunye. She’s a naturalist that leads interpretive hikes to Grinnell Lake. When we cross Swiftcurrent Lake, she and I will leave you to walk to Lake Josephine. We lead the passengers across to the hike. You head back after fifteen minutes returning anyone that is ready. The other guy, Mike, will be manning the tour office taking reservations for the 6 tours going each day and also the rowboat, kayak, and canoe rentals. He’ll send you out for the next cruise at 9 and by the 11, 1, 2, 3, and 4:30 cruises you should have it down.”
It seemed easy enough, but I felt a little nervous. We started talking about school. He was a student at University of Oregon. Eventually, we turned off the light and tried to sleep. I thought of Hanna just one wall and inches away as I drifted off. So close, yet so far.
Chapter 17
Tanner
Mid-day and although it began in the upper 30s the temp rose to 80°. Glade entertained the first day’s passengers
with stories that may or may not have been the truth. I learned the turquoise lake was shallow. He said you had to watch for bubbles in the water because moose liked to eat the underwater vegetation and even though they can swim up to 15 miles per hour you could run them over.
“Sort of freaks the tourists,” he joked.
He warned the passengers to watch in the early morning for a brown bear and two cubs who liked to forage around the shores. He and the naturalist answered a ton of questions. I noticed tourists tipped them as they departed. Deciding I’d better study up on the local wildlife if I wanted tips I made mental notes.
At lunchtime, I headed inside the lodge to the snack shop. Hanna was steaming milk for a latte, but she held up a finger for me to wait.
“How is it so far?” she asked.
“I’m kind of having fun.”
“Good. I’m glad.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I’ve learned a lot.”
“Oh, yeah. Like what?” She thanked the customer as she handed him his drink.
“Moose have poor sight, are irritable animals, members of the deer family, their antlers come in early April and are fully grown by July. The bulls do not reach maturity until age 6. They shed their antlers in December. Females are called cows and do not have antlers. They can swim fast, and have a keen sense of smell and hearing. They live their entire life within 15 miles of where they were born. Can live up to age 20 but average 10. Oh and they love water plants but will eat willow trees, buds and grass.”
She laughed through my entire speech. “Impressive. Have you heard them bugling yet?”
“What’s that?”
“The male’s call to the females. They do this back and forth to find each other to mate.”
“Interesting.” I tapped my forefinger to my bottom lip jokingly in thought. “I will have to not drown out the sounds of nature with my MP3 while I’m here.”
“How long is your break?”
I checked my watch. “Twenty more minutes.”
She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a can of tuna with a pop top, some crackers, and two apples. “Want to share lunch with me?”
“Yes to the apple but I’m going to nuke one of those nutritious Hot Pockets you are selling over there.”
Hanna arranged for her break and waited for me outside. I met her on a bench. With limited time and the cramming of food, we didn’t talk much.
“I’ll meet you when you get off work.”
She frowned. “It’s after 9. Don’t wait around on me. You have free time. Go enjoy yourself. Glade is always up for a hike, or to grab a beer, or cards, or just anything. Plus, some of the bartenders at the lodge are fun.”
I wanted to tell her that there was no one I would rather spend time with than her. I wanted to apologize for ever giving another girl the time of day. Instead I let it ride, “I’ll be back at closing.”
After a couple of hours I’d scarfed down a microwave can of soup, three PBJ sandwiches, and drank two sodas. At the rate I was going through food I’d need to borrow Hanna’s car for a grocery run by the end of the week. I’d met quite a few of the other workers, a varied bunch mostly in their twenties who were from all walks of life. Joining them in a game of poker in the employee lodge lounge, I almost forgot the time. I folded a dismal hand, and took off with no excuse.
Walking the darkened path back to the guest lodge I could still smell the trail horses that had been taken to their corral hours ago. Picking up my pace I stumbled in the downstairs avoiding a crowd and found Hanna locking up the snack shop.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” She smiled. “Thanks for coming for me but you didn’t have to. I’m sure there was a nightly game back at the rooms.”
“Yeah, but this is better.”
She looked outside, up at the brilliant stars shimmering in the black sky.
I followed her, but instead of going out the back door she turned for the stairs. “Have you checked out the lobby?”
“Nope.”
“Employees aren’t really supposed to mill around but since it’s a Sunday night it’ll probably be slow up there. I like to stand by the fire.”
We climbed the flight of stairs and a view of rough darkened beams of wood met our eyes. Five floors above with Craftsman style well-worn furniture, long rectangle lanterns hung from the highest points in the ceiling, and a gift shop. The metal domed fireplace was the only one lit, but it looked like someone had put several new logs on and the embers were radiating some intense heat. Hanna held her hands out and absorbed the warmth.
An older woman from the front desk waved at her and she took me over. She introduced April to me. Some guests arrived and we let April continue working.
“That other fireplace, the big stone one, why don’t they light it?” I asked.
“Not sure. It hasn’t been lit since I’ve shown up and it was freezing in early May. See that stuffed Big Horn Sheep?” She pointed over by the gift shop.
“Yeah.”
“They tell that in the winter the snow is so high it covers this building. The sheep get on the roof and the winter caretaker has to shoo them off. That one supposedly fell through the skylight.” She pointed to the skylight in the ceiling.
“Do you think that’s true?” I asked skeptical.
She shrugged. “It’s an entertaining story.”
We left through the front entrance and walked the stairs to the parking lot coming back to our rooms.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, I really do. I would never have adventured like this if it wasn’t for you but I think this is going to be a great experience.”
Under the harbor light of our building, I saw her smile. Up the stairs, she stopped at her room and held her key. No sock but still she listened. She unlocked her door and peeked inside like she was scared of what she might find. Still smiling, she said, “Empty. I’m taking a hot shower and going to bed.”
Stalling I asked, “Is your shower head center on the wall or off kilter like ours?”
“None of them are in good spots. When we were opening the lodge I noticed even the ones in guest lodging suck.”
“Well, I guess there is no point in asking if I can use your shower instead of mine.”
“No, plus the one in your room is set higher so you don’t have to duck down to wash your hair.”
“We must be in the deluxe room.” We both laughed.
The urge to kiss her overcame me but I wasn’t sure if her reaction would have been accepting or not. Sticking my hands in my pockets I mumbled, “Well, goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she almost whispered before closing her door.
In my own room, I listened to the noise of her readying for bed; I could even hear the creak of the old wood bed as she settled under her covers. I pressed my fingertips to the wall, memories of her floating through my head until I fell asleep.
Chapter 18
Tanner
Days had passed much the same as the first. When I sought her after work, I learned she’d switched shifts with another employee and had gotten off early. When I passed her bedroom door and saw a sock over the doorknob then saw Kali walking down the hall my stomach clenched at the thought she was there with some other guy. Relief flooded me when I found her sitting in her car shrouded in a blanket with the dome light lighting up the interior. Engrossed in her book, she jumped as I tapped on the window. She rolled it down.
“Hey.” She smiled.
“What are you doing?”
“Reading.” She held up her book.
“I can see that. Want some company?”
She swept up a bunch of junk from her passenger seat and gestured. I got in.
“The gym sock is on your door but I just saw your roommate.”
“Oh, well, I still like hanging out here. It’s quieter.”
Of course, it was quieter. Between the muffling voices and the groaning pipes a bar would be quieter. “I saw a bear today.”
“What did it
look like?” she asked sticking a piece of wrapped gum as a place holder in her book.
“Big. Black. Overfed.” I smiled. “Glade explained the Grizzly hump, less prominent ears, and long straight claws vs. the Black Bear. Made me feel all greenhorn with the stand tall, appear big to a Black, never turn your back, but if rushed stand your ground or cop out and go fetal on a Grizzly.”
“Was it in the creek?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“It was probably Yogi, or at least that’s what I call him. He hangs out around here causing bear jams with tourists.”
“Bear jams?”
“It’s where the traffic backs up on the roads as all the tourists park their cars trying to get a glimpse of a bear. I nicknamed him Yogi because one day from a distance I saw him carrying a loaf of bread still in the plastic sleeve in his mouth. He must have stolen it from the campgrounds. If he keeps it up, it won’t be long before the rangers trap him and take him off.”
“Aren’t you afraid walking around in the dark here?”
“I try to be noisy so I don’t come up on one unaware. I always look twice before I walk outside.” She tapped her satchel, “and I carry bear mace with me.”
I laughed. “I’m not completely confident that the stuff will work but I can be noisy.”
“Yes, you tend to not walk silently,” she teased and her eyes warmed.
I wanted to kiss her so bad. “What do you have planned on your next day off?”
“It’s not for another four days.”
“So what do you have planned in four days?”
“Sleep, hibernation.”
I laughed. “Maybe we can do something together.”
“I checked your schedule. You aren’t off.”
“Yeah, the boat company sends in floaters to relieve us. I don’t ever have the same days off as Glade. But I still get off early enough to hang with you.”
She seemed unsure. Finally, she said, “Okay. We can go out.”